NFEC National Conference: 26 November 2009 Funding Strategy in Support of QCF Implementation Leighton Ernsberger, QC

3. Introduction: The LSC remit The November 2008 Secretaries of State Remit letters allocated LSC responsibility to:

4. At the heart of the Skills Strategy Central to the effective delivery of ‘New Industry: New Jobs’ A driver for social justice Central to the Skills Investment Strategy and Skills Funding Agency – national/spatial/sectoral Bringing together individual entitlement within a universal system The wider drivers

5. Implement changes – in line with wider system changes but will need: Changes to what is publicly funded Changes to how provision is prioritised for funding and across which programmes Changes to the performance framework Changes to the commissioning approach Changes to the business systems used to analyse, allocate, calculate, measure, record and report Information and advice focused on delivering the full opportunities and benefits of the QCF Key objectives

6. Deliver a fully specified QCF Service Layer which will: Support learners to manage and take ownership of their qualifications and credit achievement in the QCF Support learners to transfer achievement in the QCF between qualifications, learning providers and awarding organisations Support learners to plan future learning in the QCF through Routes to Achievement maximising their prior credit Provide access to QCF achievement data and additional functions through the MIAP Personal Learning Record Report to government and agencies Integrate learner-facing services Key objectives

7. For SFA QCF must contribute to the realisation of strategic objectives and support a system accessible to a wide range of individuals and employers For SFA balance to be achieved between current focus on achievement and measurement of ‘full’ qualifications and taking advantage of flexibility offered by QCF in terms of encouraging and supporting incremental achievement For SFA QCF contributor to, but not a sole determinant of future funding models For SFA QCF Service Layer will be critical to empowering learners to take greater ownership over managing their achievements, realising their individual entitlement and the aspiration of Skills Accounts The ULN will be critical to realising many of the aspirations of delivering coherent services across the SFA, underpinning both funding and the QCF Service Layer Key points

8. For providers QCF brings the opportunity to formalise existing good practice – incremental learning with recognition of achievement An opportunity to structure delivery differently – taking advantage of flexibilities offered through rules of combination, accumulation and transfer An opportunity to review services offered by awarding organisations and structuring new deals to support efficient delivery An opportunity to have learner partial achievement recognised Clarity of funding priorities – streamlined processes Data on achievement direct from awarding organisations into the MIAP Personal Learner Record – support advice and guidance and APL Key points - providers

9. The approach - QCF

10. Timelines

11. Transition to QCF Train to Gain: QCF Level 2 prioritised from September 09, with significant focus on April 2010. Offender Learning and Skills Service: QCF provision prioritised from September 09. Extension of unit trials Oct 2010. All accredited provision QCF from September 2010 Pre-Employment Training: QCF introduced across provision from September 09. All accredited provision QCF from September 2010 Adult Learner Responsive: QCF target bearing qualifications prioritised from September 09. QCF provision prioritised for funding from September 2010. National Apprenticeship Service: Focus on introducing QCF from September 2010. Programme summary

12. QCF 2010/11: operational implementation 

13. QCF 2012/13: operational implementation  Skills priorities met through delivery of QCF – national, spatial, sectoral, employment etc SFA programmes designed using QCF flexibilities to meet skills priorities Credit accumulation and transfer driven by SFA business model and reflected in business processes Credit becomes key element of funding methodology Credit as a primary measure of achievement across programmes and included within FFE and Inspection measures Adult entitlement expressed as credit – through learner accounts Recognition of Prior Learning – clear policy for all learners, providers and awarding organisations – drives funding efficiencies Strategic changes to SFA business systems to support operational delivery

14. The approach – Service Layer

16. Provider journey – Service Layer

18. Service Layer Further work on embedding the ULN as this is a fundamental prerequisite. Providers will need to ensure: All learners on QCF provision are assigned a ULN The ULN is shared with the Awarding Organisation when submitting for assessment The Learner Registration Service is up to date confirm the following are completed for their learners: Fair Processing Notice Validated ID Email address What do I do now?

19. Implementation: Reviewing current offer against what is available on QCF and preparing for the switch AO question ‘ ‘what is in the pipeline? SSC question – links? LSC/SFA ‘lists’ as authoritative source of what is funded going forward Implications in terms of strategic & organisational planning Implications in terms of flexing up the delivery Inhibitors and enablers for both accumulation and transfer. What do I do now?

20. Questions

21. LSC help and advice For further information about the LSC implementation of the QCF contact the LSC QCF Service Desk Telephone: 0870 2670054 (weekdays 8am - 6pm, excluding public holidays in England) Email on: qcfservicedesk@lsc.gov.uk